145 Days in Sanctuary
Donation protected
Today marks day number 145 that my friend Nelson is in sanctuary, living in a tiny room in a church off the Yale campus. It used to be the pastor's office. He entered the church to give his lawyer time to fight his deportation order, so he wouldn't be separated from his family. Sanctuary means he's living in the church while the lawyer files the paperwork and Immigration processes it. (ICE has an unofficial policy against entering churches to detain immigrants.)
His family....there's Elsa, his sweet, shy wife with a killer chicken recipe. Of course there's 13-year old Arlly, named after an Emmy-award winning journalist, who believes it is written in the stars she will be famous and makes Cardi B seem like she lacks charisma. (She tells her mom, "When I'm rich and famous and have a big house, I'll have you move in and pay you to make me your rice and chicken.") There's Kelly, the 16-year old straight-A math and science whiz who is trying to bring up her history grade and texted us to ask why Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia, which her teacher didn't explain to her satisfaction. ("Omggggggg I HATE Hitler!!!!" was her response to the long-winded answer.) And there's little Brandon, 5 years old, who is ushered between his home, his school, and the church every day where he thinks his dad has a job. But he's begun asking when he's coming home with the voice of an anxious child. He's tired. The girls are tired. Elsa is exhausted. And Nelson? Nelson is doing his best.
There are no working clocks inside the church. Time passes slowly in there. The seasons are passing quickly, cruelly. ICE can enter the church at any time, they're usually hanging out at the court house only a few blocks away. Nelson can leave at any time. It's a stare-off. We're just buying time for the lawyer. But I'll be honest, they're not doing well right now. They need our help.
I have a simple goal. Let's raise $20 for every day he has been in sanctuary. With Nelson in sanctuary, the family lost their breadwinner. His family has bills to pay, a mortgage, groceries, summer clothes for the rapidly growing kids, school supplies. We can easily do this.
Sanctuary is ancient, it's in our blood as human beings. It's in this country's alleged Judeo-Christian foundation. In Hebrews 13:2, Saint Paul says, "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." I believe it.
Please give what you can.
His family....there's Elsa, his sweet, shy wife with a killer chicken recipe. Of course there's 13-year old Arlly, named after an Emmy-award winning journalist, who believes it is written in the stars she will be famous and makes Cardi B seem like she lacks charisma. (She tells her mom, "When I'm rich and famous and have a big house, I'll have you move in and pay you to make me your rice and chicken.") There's Kelly, the 16-year old straight-A math and science whiz who is trying to bring up her history grade and texted us to ask why Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia, which her teacher didn't explain to her satisfaction. ("Omggggggg I HATE Hitler!!!!" was her response to the long-winded answer.) And there's little Brandon, 5 years old, who is ushered between his home, his school, and the church every day where he thinks his dad has a job. But he's begun asking when he's coming home with the voice of an anxious child. He's tired. The girls are tired. Elsa is exhausted. And Nelson? Nelson is doing his best.
There are no working clocks inside the church. Time passes slowly in there. The seasons are passing quickly, cruelly. ICE can enter the church at any time, they're usually hanging out at the court house only a few blocks away. Nelson can leave at any time. It's a stare-off. We're just buying time for the lawyer. But I'll be honest, they're not doing well right now. They need our help.
I have a simple goal. Let's raise $20 for every day he has been in sanctuary. With Nelson in sanctuary, the family lost their breadwinner. His family has bills to pay, a mortgage, groceries, summer clothes for the rapidly growing kids, school supplies. We can easily do this.
Sanctuary is ancient, it's in our blood as human beings. It's in this country's alleged Judeo-Christian foundation. In Hebrews 13:2, Saint Paul says, "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." I believe it.
Please give what you can.
Organizer
Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
Organizer
New Haven, CT
